Drinking apparatus system and method

ABSTRACT

A drinking apparatus comprising a bowl having radial symmetry about a first axis Y extending a length of the bowl, the bowl having a bowl opening at a first end of the drinking apparatus defining a first diameter and extending to a third diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; a curve extending from the bowl; a stem extending from the curve, the stem extending linearly along an axis Q and having a consistent diameter along a length of the stem, the stem extending to a second end having a drinking port; and an internal chamber defined by the bowl, curve and stem, with the bowl opening and drinking port communicating with the internal chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/531,088 filed Jun. 23, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. X,YYY,ZZZ, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a drinking apparatus being used by a drinker;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view thereof

FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front view thereof

FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a left side view thereof

FIG. 7 is a top view thereof; and,

FIG. 8 is a bottom view thereof

It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments. The figures do not illustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present disclosure relates to a drinking apparatus 100 that is configured to hold fluids and allow a user 101 to drink such fluids therefrom. Given that the present disclosure relates to drinking fluids from a drinking apparatus 100 by a user 101, any suitable fluid drinkable by a user 101 is applicable in the present disclosure. For example, fluids such as water, fruit juice, milk, wine, or the like, can be drunk by a user 101 with the drinking apparatus 100. In further examples, carbonated fluids such as sparkling wine, champagne, tonic water, soda pop, ginger ale, or the like can be drunk by a user 101 with the drinking apparatus 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the drinking apparatus 100 can be transparent. Accordingly, the drinking apparatus 100 can comprise various suitable transparent materials including glass, plastic, and the like.

Turning to FIGS. 2-8, the drinking apparatus can comprise a bowl 120, a bend 140 and a stem 160, which define a cavity 180 therein. The bowl 120 comprises a first end 122 that comprises a bowl opening 124 defined at least in part by a rim 130. The bowl opening 124 provides an opening at the first end 122 to the cavity 180 within the bowl 120, bend 140 and stem 160.

The bowl 120 can comprise a top portion 126 and a bottom portion 128 with the top portion 126 extending from the first end 122 to the bottom portion 128, with the bottom portion extending to the bend 140, and the bend 140 extending to the stem 160. At least a portion of the bowl 120 can have circular radial symmetry and/or axial symmetry about an axis Y (see FIGS. 4 and 6-8) with the radius about axis Y changing along a length of the bowl 120. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rim 130 at the first end 122 can define a first diameter d₁, with the diameter of the bowl 120 expanding as the top portion 126 extends toward the bottom portion 128 to a second diameter d₂. The diameter of bowl 120 tapers from the second diameter d₂ to a third diameter d₃ that is smaller than the first and second diameters d₁, d₂.

The bend 140 can similarly comprise curved radial symmetry and/or curved axial symmetry with the diameter of the bend 140 being equal to the third diameter d₃ along at least a portion of the bend 140. The bend 140 can extend to the stem 160, with the stem 160 extending linearly along axis Q (FIG. 6) and having a diameter equal to the third diameter d₃ along the length of the stem 160. The stem 160 extends to a second end 162 having a rim 166 that at least in part defines a drinking port 164.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, axis Q of the stem 160 intersects axis Y of the bowl 120 at an angle of 73 degrees. In other words, axis Q of the stem 160 intersects axis Y of the bowl 120 at an angle of less than 90 degrees and greater than 45 degrees. As shown in FIG. 6, the distance from respective faces of the first and second end 122, 162 to the intersection of the Y and Q axes can be equal. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, the drinking apparatus 100 comprises a single plane of symmetry XY that is coincident with axes Y and Q.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a method of using the drinking apparatus 100 to drink fluid can include introducing fluid into the cavity 180 of the drinking apparatus 100 (e.g., via the bowl opening 124 or drinking port 164) and a user 101 drinking the fluid from the drinking port 164 at the second end 162. As can be seen in FIG. 1, drinking fluid disposed within the cavity 180 via the drinking port 164 can include tilting or rotating the drinking apparatus upward about the lips or mouth of a user such that fluid within the cavity 180 pours out of the drinking port 164.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, drinking fluid from the cavity 180 of the drinking apparatus 100 can include holding the drinking apparatus 100 with plane XY perpendicular to the ground (i.e., coincident with the local force of gravity) such that fluid is held within the cavity 180 and does not pour out of one or both of the bowl opening 124 or drinking port 164. Drinking the fluid by the user 101 can including rotating the drinking apparatus within the plane XY such that fluid exits the drinking port 164 and into the mouth of the user 101.

The described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and specific examples thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the described embodiments are not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of drinking liquid from a drinking apparatus, the method comprising: introducing a liquid to an internal chamber of a drinking apparatus, the drinking apparatus consisting essentially of: a bowl having circular radial symmetry about a first axis Y extending a length of the bowl, the bowl having a bowl opening at a first end of the drinking apparatus defining a first diameter, the bowl having a top portion extending from the bowl opening to a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, the bowl further including a bottom portion extending from the second diameter to a third diameter that is smaller than the first and second diameter, a curve extending from the bottom portion of the bowl, a stem extending from the curve, the stem extending linearly along an axis Q and having a consistent diameter equal to the third diameter along a length of the stem, the stem extending to a second end having a drinking port, and an internal chamber defined by the bowl, curve and stem, with the bowl opening and drinking port communicating with the internal chamber, wherein the drinking apparatus includes a single plane of symmetry XY that is coincident with the Y and Q axes; holding the drinking apparatus having the liquid disposed within the internal chamber with the plane of symmetry XY coincident with a local force of gravity; positioning the drinking port about a mouth of a user; and rotating the drinking apparatus within the plane of symmetry XY while coincident with the local force of gravity such that the liquid disposed within the internal chamber exits the drinking port and enters the mouth of the user.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the Y and Q axes intersect at an angle of less than 90 degrees and greater than 45 degrees.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the drinking apparatus is transparent.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bowl opening and drinking port are circular.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises champagne.
 6. A drinking apparatus consisting essentially of: a bowl having circular radial symmetry about a first axis Y extending a length of the bowl, the bowl having a bowl opening at a first end of the drinking apparatus defining a first diameter, the bowl having a top portion extending from the bowl opening to a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, the bowl further including a bottom portion extending from the second diameter to a third diameter that is smaller than the first and second diameter; a curve extending from the bottom portion of the bowl; a stem extending from the curve, the stem extending linearly along an axis Q and having a consistent diameter equal to the third diameter along a length of the stem, the stem extending to a second end having a drinking port; and an internal chamber defined by the bowl, curve and stem, with the bowl opening and drinking port communicating with the internal chamber, wherein the drinking apparatus includes a plane of symmetry XY that is coincident with the Y and Q axes.
 7. The drinking apparatus of claim 6, wherein the Y and Q axes intersect at an angle of 37 degrees.
 8. A drinking apparatus comprising: a bowl having radial symmetry about a first axis Y extending a length of the bowl, the bowl having a bowl opening at a first end of the drinking apparatus defining a first diameter and extending to a third diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; a curve extending from the bowl; a stem extending from the curve, the stem extending linearly along an axis Q and having a consistent diameter along a length of the stem, the stem extending to a second end having a drinking port; and an internal chamber defined by the bowl, curve and stem, with the bowl opening and drinking port communicating with the internal chamber.
 9. The drinking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bowl comprises a top portion extending from the bowl opening to a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, the bowl further including a bottom portion extending from the second diameter to the third diameter, which is smaller than the first and second diameter.
 10. The drinking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stem extends linearly along an axis Q.
 11. The drinking apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stem extends linearly with a consistent diameter equal to the third diameter along a length of the stem.
 12. The drinking apparatus of claim 10, wherein the drinking apparatus includes a single plane of symmetry XY that is coincident with the Y and Q axes.
 13. The drinking apparatus claim 10, wherein the Y and Q axes intersect at an angle of less than 90 degrees and greater than 45 degrees.
 14. The drinking apparatus claim 10, wherein the Y and Q axes intersect at an angle of 37 degrees.
 15. The drinking apparatus claim 10, wherein respective distances from respective faces of the first and second end to the intersection of the Y and Q axes is equal.
 16. The drinking apparatus claim 8, wherein the drinking apparatus is transparent.
 17. The drinking apparatus claim 8, wherein the bowl opening and drinking port are circular.
 18. A drinking apparatus consisting of the elements of claim
 8. 19. A drinking apparatus consisting essentially of the elements of claim
 8. 